GB2422788A

GB2422788A - A martial arts training device

Info

Publication number: GB2422788A
Application number: GB0502209A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-03
Filing date: 2005-02-03
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-03
Also published as: GB2422788B; GB0502209D0

Abstract

A martial arts training device comprises an elongate base 1 mounted on a vertical support with a series of components 3, 5, 6 adjustably mounted on the base. The base has a T shaped rail. The components comprise at least one shock absorbent punching pad 3 and arms 5 or legs 6 which have resilient mountings 4. The components have 'T' shaped slots which engage with the rail and have a pin to hold the components in their selected positions. Each pad is formed from two layers of dense foam (7, fig 5) with a thin board (8, fig 5) mounted between them.

Description

1 2422788 Kung Fu Training Dummy This invention relates to an adjustable

training dummy with resiliently mounted arms. During the practice of various Kung Fu techniques the opponent's arms are displaced to allow strikes to connect with the body behind them Traditional training dummies have static arms and are of a fixed height The present invention proposes a Kung Eu training device comprising an elongate base adapted to be mounted on a vertical support, and a series of components adjustably mounted on the base, the components comprising at least one shock absorbent punching pad and at least one block bearing at least one arm or other elongate member extending outwardly of the base and resiliently attached to the block so that it may be displaced against the bias of the attachment by a force applied substantially laterally of the member, the mounting means for each component being such that its position on the base may be adjusted longitudinally of the base and secured in any of a number of selected positions.

The mounting means may be of any suitable form but the preferred form comprises a rail of "1"- shaped cross-section attached to the base and running longitudinally of it, each component being formed with a "T"-shaped slot which engages over the rail and allows each component to slide along the rail. Other configurations such as a dove-tail shaped rail engaging in complementary slots in the components, or where the components have projections engaging in an elongate slot in the base are, of course, possible A particularly preferred component comprises a block from which extend two arms of unequal length, the arms being spaced from each other in a direction longitudinally of the base and being at an acute angle to each other. The lower arm may extend substantially normal to the base whilst the upper arm may be at an angle of about 300 to the lower one and be of about half its length Each punching pad may comprise two layers of dense foam separated by a layer of inflexible material, the whole encased by a cover The cover may made of PVC, leather or other hard wearing material.

The resilient attachment means preferably comprises a coil spring, most preferably one in which the adjacent coils are in contact when the spring is unstressed.

Preferably, each sliding component is held in place by a removable pin inserted in a selected one of a series of slots to withstand the vibrations when under use.

The adjustability of the components allows any user to train with only the components needed, and at a height ergonomically suited to their proportions. The pliability and configuration of the arms allows kung fu techniques to be more accurately reproduced spatially.

An example of the invention is described by the following accompanying drawings: Figure 1: shows an embodiment of the invention comprising a wall mountable base bearing a number of components.

Figure 2: shows one possible configuration of arms.

Figure 3: specifically shows a preferred arm configuration.

Figure 4: shows the displacement the resilient arms can describe.

Figure 5. shows the internal design of the punching pads.

Figure 6. shows an embodiment of the method for securing the components.

As shown in Fig 1, a base I is constructed in such a way as to allow the components to be adjustably mounted on it In use, the base 1 may be mounted on a vertical support such as a wall by any suitable means. In the illustrated embodiment, the base I has a longitudinally mounted "T"-shaped rail which engages the components by means of a complementary "T" slot in the block 2 which forms the base of each component. This arrangement allows the components to slide in a direction longitudinally of the base, whilst remaining unmoved by forces from other directions, and to be anchored in a variety of positions. Fig 6 shows one form of anchoring means in which a removable pin 9 is inserted from the side, passing through one of a series of bores in the base I and a bore in the block 2, and is rotated to be anchored behind a locking pin or similar.

These components can be removed completely by sliding them off the top of the base I The illustrated components consist of blocks 2, two bearing punching pads 3, and three others, one bearing a pair of arms 5, another bearing a single arm 5 and the third bearing an angled leg 6.

The punching pads 3 may be constructed in any suitable manner, but the preferred construction shown in Figure 5 consists of a block 2 bearing two layers of dense foam 7 separated by a thin layer 8 of an inflexible and durable material such as MDF, plastic or similar.

The arms 5 and the leg 6 are mounted separately on blocks by resilient mounting means 4 which, as shown by the arrows in Figure 4, allows them to be displaced from their resting point by the user. The preferred resilient mounting consists of a coiled spring of appropriate rate. A particularly preferred spring is one in which the adjacent coils are in contact in the unstressed condition. However, any mounting that rapidly returns a limb to its resting position as soon as pressure is relaxed is suitable.

Figure 2 shows a configuration of arms which may be used. In this conventional arrangement, the arms 5 are of equal length and resiliently mounted next to each other to extend outwardly of the base and at an acute angle to each other.

A greatly preferred configuration of the upper arms, however, is shown in Figure 1 and illustrated in more detail in Figure 3. Here the arms 5 are attached by the resilient means 4 to a block 2 and arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction The lower arm extends outwardly from the block in a direction normal to it, while the upper arm is inclined upwards so that the angle "c" included by the arms is substantially 300. The arms are of unequal length; the length "a" of the lower arm is substantially the length of a man's arm, as measured from wrist to shoulder, while the length "b' of the upper arm is about 1/2 ua During trapping' techniques (the practice of pinning the opponent's arms, one above the other, using one arm and striking with the free arm) it is usual to draw or move an opponent's limbs to cross their centre line' (defined as a plane from the centre of one combatant to the centre of another) The longer arm can have a technique performed upon it while striking the punching pad and then a second technique performed upon the shorter, upper arm (simulating the opponents block or parry of the first strike) without the user having to greatly shift their angle of attack. In the traditional configuration the arms can not simulate a scenario where the opponents arms end up crossed. Nor can a combination of techniques be performed on both arms without the user having to shift their line of attack significantly, thus not replicating the technique spatially as preformed upon an actual opponent.

The leg 6 is of conventional form and is also mounted by resilient means 4 and its supporting block 2 is also adjustable in position.

Claims

Claims 1. A martial arts training device comprising an elongate base

adapted to be mounted on a vertical support, and a series of components adjustably mounted on the base, the components comprising at least one shock absorbent punching pad and at least one block bearing at least one arm or other elongate member extending outwardly of the base and resiliently attached to the block so that it may be displaced against the bias of the attachment by a force applied substantially laterally of the member, the mounting means for each component being such that its position on the base may be adjusted longitudinally of the base and secured in any of a number of selected positions.
2. A device as claimed in claim I wherein the mounting means comprises a rail of "T"-shaped cross-section attached to the base and running longitudinally of it, each component being formed with a "T"-shaped slot which engages over the rail and allows to component to slide along the raiL
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each component is held in place by a pin inserted through both the component and the base.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each punching pad comprises two layers of dense foam separated by a layer of inflexible material, the whole encased by a plastics cover.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one component comprises a block from which extend two arms of unequal length, the arms being spaced from each other in a direction longitudinally of the base and being at an acute angle to each other.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the angle is substantially 300.
7. A device as claimed in either of claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the longer arm is substantially twice the length of the shorter.
8. A device as claimed in any of claims I to 4 wherein one component comprises a block from which extends two arms of substantially equal length, spaced from each other in a direction transverse of the base and being at an acute angle to each other.
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the resilient attachment means comprises a coil spring.
10. A device according to Claim 9 when the elongate member extends substantially normal to the base
II. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the elongate member extends at a downward angle from the base at its proximal end and is formed with a bend so that the distal end4s substantially vertical.

12 A martial arts training device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein each coil of the spring is in contact with an adjacent coil when the spring is in an unstressed condition.

II A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate member extends at a downward angle from the base at its proximal end and is formed with a bend so that the distal end is substantially verticaL
12. A martial arts training device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims I A martial arts training device comprising an elongate base adapted to be mounted on a vertical support, and a series of components adjustably mounted on the base, the components compnsing at least one shock absorbent punching pad and at least one block from which extend two arms of unequal length, the arms being spaced from each other in a direction longitudinally of the base and being at an acute angle to each other, each arm being resiliently attached to the block so that it may be displaced against the bias of the attachment by a force applied substantially laterally of the member, the mounting means for each component being such that its position on the base may be adjusted longitudinally of the base and secured in any of a number of selected positions.

2. A device as claimed in claim I wherein the mounting means comprises a rail of "T"- shaped cross-section attached to the base and running longitudinally of it, each component being formed with a "T"-shaped slot which engages over the rail and allows to component to slide along the rail.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each component is held in place by a pin inserted through both the component and the base.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each punching pad corn pnses two layers of dense foam separated by a layer of inflexible material, the whole encased by a plastics cover.

5. A device as claimed in claim I wherein the angle is substantially 3Q0* 6. A device as claimed in either of claim I or claim 5 wherein the upper arm is substantially half the length of the longer.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the resilient attachment means comprises a coil spring.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each coil of the spring is in contact with an adjacent coil when the spring is in an unstressed condition.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an additional component is adjustably mounted on the base, the component comprising a block on which is resiliently mounted a single elongate member.